Rail joint



Fatented Sept. 9, 1,924.

JOHN ROSCOE MILLWARD,

f `1.598.114 f f ArENT oittica.. v

or TENAFLY, NEW .mitsamt v i RAIL Jorma.

Application led January T 0 @ZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN Roscoe MILL- WARD. a citizen of the United States, residing at Tenaiy, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey. have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail Joints, oi' which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to rail joints and consists of an improved Welded joint structure and method of weldmgly securing the splice bars in a rail joint designed to possess substantial advantages over the welded types of joints asheretofore produced.

An important object accomplished by my present invention is they production of a Welded joint which will successfully permit l strength of the rail to a negligible degree.

In the preferred embodiment. of my invention my improved joint performs the additional function of anchoring the rail thereby eliminating the necessity of anti-creeping devices or reducing the number employed for that purpose.

The aforesaid and other features and advantages of my invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters are employed to denote the corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view showing a rail joint embodying the features of my invent-ion.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view thereof o line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a similar' view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the approved embodiment of my invention7 as illustrated, 1 and 2 indicate the aligned or meeting rail endsto the joined, 3 3 the oppositely positioned splice bars and e the base platev secured to the'ties 5--5` by the usual spikes 6.

The splice bars are 7, 1922. Serial No. 527,640.`

shown of the anglebar type with their base flanges 7 having their lower edges lor surfaces in close proximity tothe upper surface of the base or joint plate 4. The base or tie plate 4 is of a standard joint plate construe-.ll

tion arranged to bridge the ties andfhaving' flat rail bearing surfaces at each end with its intermediate side portions deformedf'vtoprd vide dependingreinforcing'flanges 8 atleach side between the ties and is provided at 4 ends with the upt'urned rail aligninglugs" In accordance with my inventiony the splice bars are secured in position by welding to produce a joint having advantages of per manency of installationand in an improved manner permit of the required relative movement vof the rail ends thereby to successfully meet the conditions imposed ink exposed railinstallations. ln itssimples't expression my, j invention contemplates weldingly securing f each of the splice bars to one rail end only thereby to al ow longitudinal movement of the other'rail relative thereto. In the preferred arrangement this is accomplished to embody the additional improved features providing for rigidly securing the splice bars by welding connection to the under side of the rail heads only so as to conserve to the maximum degree the strength of the rail'.

In the preferred arrangement illustrated in Figs. l to 3 each of the splice bars is welded along its uppermost edge at 'a-a; to the underside of the head of one rail end, the l rail 2 as illustrated. v`The base flange's'ofthe splice bars are similarlyv securedk by'wells o o at their lower outer edges to the upper surface of the base or joint plate at the flattened bearing ends thereof. As will be noted the resulting connected structure provides for rigidly securing of the splice bars so-'as to leave one rail end, the rail end las indicated, free to move longitudinally" under expansion and contraction relative to each of the splice bars. `Inpractice and as shown the splice bars may beV additionally secured at each end by the usual connecting bolt 12 which may advantageously be 'employed to initially hold the bars in position lduring the welding operation.' Thev latter' may be effected by any suitable welding flame.

As will be understood in a continuous rail each joint will lbev similarly constructed whereby one end only of each rail sectionwill be rigidly secured to the splice-bars andbase plate.

The described arrangement provides for rigidly and irinly `securing the joint `in a permanent manner with welding connection between the splice bar and the rail at one end only and with the weld positioned between the lower edge of the rail head and the head or top surface of the bar. The welding connection to the rail is thus restricted to the portion thereof wherein the substantial strains are compressive, my iinproved arrangement being designed particularly to avoid welding to the lower portion or base of the rail where the weld would be detrimental to the strength of the rail in its effect on the physical structure of the steel.

rrl`he location of the weld connecting the splice-bars to the base plate is also such as to impair the strength of the bar to a negligible degree if at all. D

A further valuable advantage of my nnproved ljoint obtains by reason ot the rigid connection between the rail and the base plate. As a result the rail is securely anchored against longitudinal creeping` moveinent7 the opposition to this movement being advantageously distributed between the two ties, connected to the joint or base plate which jointly operate to oppose movement.

TWhile I have described and shown an approved embodiment o'f the features ot my invention it will be understood that they are subject to various modification and ap plica tion without departing troni the scope olf the invention as deiined in the appended claims. For instance while l have shown in the disclosure a single base or joint plate bridging two ties. separate tie plates may be used upon the respective ties in thel customary manner or the base plate may be e1;- tended over more than two ot the ties to increase the anchoring effect.

las illustrated, the length of the weld connecting the top of the splice bar to the under-side of the rail head may desirably be proportioned whereby the weld does not ertend to the extreme end ot the splice bar whereby such weakening of the physical structure of the steel, as may occur by rcason of the welding operation7 will be liniited to that portion ot the rail which is fully reinforced by the splice bars. Also as. will be further understood the welding connection of the rail head may be desirabljv proportioned with relation to the bonding); ei:- iect to permit of the dismantling or the joint structure by theA driving iu ot a weil `fe between the splice bar and rail to facilitate the operation of replacing track.

Having described my invention l claim:

l. A rail joint structure comprising the rails, oppositely positioned splice bars arranged to connect the rail ends and a` joint plate positioned thereunder, each ot the splice bars being connected by welding to lineaire one rail end and to the underside of the head only and connected at its lower edgel to the plate and said platel being secured to a plurality ot' ties, substantially as described.

2. A rail joint structure comprising the rails, oppositely positioned splice bars connecting the rail ends and a base plate underlying` a portion of the splice bars, each ot the splice bars being connected to one rail end only and to the base plate by a welding operation.

3. li rail joint structure comprising the rail.,y oppositely positioned splice bars connecting the rail ends and a base or joint plate positioned to underly a portion oi the splice bars, each ot the splice bars being connected to one rail end only and to the underside of the head thereof by welding and having its lower flange portion secured by a welding connection to the plate, substantially as described.

4l. The herein described method oif securing rail joint structures comprising the rails, base plate and splice bars for connectingl the rail ends consisting in weldingly securing each ot' the splice bars to one rail end only and to the base plate, substantially as described.

5. The herein described method of securing rail joint structures comprising the rails7 base or joint plate and splice bars for connecting the rail ends, consisting in weldingly securing each et the splice bars at its upper edge to the underside oi one rail head only and weldingly sefuring each of the splice bars at its lower edge to the base plate, substantially as described.

6. ln a rail joint structure comprising the rails, opp'ositely positioned splice bars connecting the rail ends and a. base plate underlying the splice bars, means tor securing the splice bars comprising a connecting weld between the splice bar and the base plate.

7. A rail joint structure comprising the rails, oppositely positioned splice bars con-- necting` the rail ends and a base plate underlying a portion ot' the splice bars7 each of the splice bars being connected to one rail. end only and for substantially their 'full length to the base plate by a welding operation.

8. A rail joint structure comprising the rails, oppositelj,r positioned splice bars ot standard yangle bar section arranged to connect the rail ends and a joint plate positioned thereunder, each ot the splice bars being connected by welding to one and the saine rail end and to the underside of the head only and at its lower edge to the plate Yfor substantially its tull length.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

Joint Roscoe Minnwinn.

llO 

